Summer Events For Michigan Autopalooza

DETROIT — The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) and the MotorCities National Heritage Area (MCNHA) announced the 2014 Autopalooza lineup for auto related events for the summer. The announcements were made in the antique auto atrium at the Detroit Historical Museum. Autopalooza is a series of world-class automotive cruises, races and shows in metro Detroit that celebrate southeast Michigan’s automotive heritage.

For the second consecutive year, the Grand Prix hosted two Verizon IndyCar Series races in one action-packed weekend — the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans – with one race Saturday and one race Sunday. The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix also included the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, the Pirelli World Challenge Series and, new for 2014, the SPEED Energy Super Truck Series.

Autopalooza hopes to promote the region’s rich automotive heritage to auto enthusiasts and visitors alike. The announcements talked about the significant economic impact on metro Detroit. The DMCVB calculated that the annual revenue generated from the Grand Prix, Concours d’Elegance and the Woodward Dream Cruise alone may exceed $110 million.

“There is no place in the world which celebrates its auto culture quite like we do in this region, where the automobile heritage is legendary,” said Shawn Pomaville, managing director, Motor Cities National Heritage Area. “Whether it is the beauty of automotive design at our car shows, the power and ingenuity of our races or the classics cruising Woodward, Gratiot, Hines, Fort and Saginaw St., we are proud to offer the very best in auto heritage tourism all summer long.”

Michigan International Speedway president, Roger Curtis, said that motorsports are part of the fabric of the community. He emphasized, “Motorsports are Detroit’s fifth hometown team.” Bud Denker, chairman of the Belle Isle Grand Prix, echoed Curtis’ statements about the Autopalooza schedule. “Automotive is in our DNA here Michigan,” added Denker. “The car put us on the map. These 16 Autopalooza events all bring benefits with them to the area.”